Sensitized-paper-treating apparatus.



UNITED STATES PATNT FF ll GHARLES F. PEASE AND CHARLES A. GREEN, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THE C. F. PEASE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SENSITIZED-ZPAPER-TREATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 11915.

' Application filed December 16, 1912. Serial No. 737,139.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES .F. PEASE andCHARLES A. GREEN, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago,in. the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Sensitized-Paper-Treating Apparatus, of whichthe following is a specification.

Our invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines fortreating sensitized paper and particularly what is known as print paperafter the same has been printed.

In the process of producing photographicprints having blue or blacklines upon a white foundation it is customary to first pass the printpaper through a printing machine. The coated surface of the print paperis next subjected to the action of a chemical solution. The next step inthe process is to thoroughly wash the coated surface of the paper afterthe same has been treated with the chemical solution, to remove alltraces of the same therefrom. It has been found that the length of timethat the chemical solution should remain upon the coated surface oftheprint paper, varies with'th'e character of the paper and the characteror strength of the solution. In order that this length of time may bevaried to suit the particular conditions, as above stated, the presentinvention provides novel means whereby the washing medium may be appliedwithout loss and the washing apparatu'sim oved toward or away from thedevice which applies the chemical solution to the coated surface of thepaper, thus varying the length of time that such chemical solution' willremain upon the coated surface of the paper before being removed by saidwashing apparatus. These are considered to the 'most important featuresof the invention. as there is considerable waste of the washing mediumin present apparatus and it has been found by experiments that it isimpossible to make wholly satisfactory prints without providing somemeans to regulate the'time for which the chemical solution remaii'isupon the coated surface of the paper] An important object of thisinvention is to provide means of the above mentioned character, whichare simple in construction, reliable in operation and durable.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings formin a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame, Figure 1 is an edge elevation of apparatus embodying theinvention, a portion thereof being shown in section, Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same, and. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 1 designates aphotographic printing machine, embodying a source of light and a bedplate over which the print or photographic paper 5 is caused to travel.This photographic printing machine is not shown, as the same forms nopart of the present invention.

Connected with the rear portion of the printing machine 1 at each sidethereof is a horizontal support or bracket 7, between which are mountedspaced horizontal rods or rolls 8 and 9, there bein two of such supportsor brackets. The print paper 5 passes under and supports a lower roll10,'having each end thereof provided with a flange, as shown.

A bracket 11 connected with the printing machine 1 serves to support thetank 16 hereinafter referred to. The print paper 5 passes above and inengagement with hori Zontal rods or rolls 8 and 9, as shown.

The numeral 12 designates means for ap plying a chemical solution,to'the coated surface of the paper 5. This chemical solution applyingmeans may be of any well known or preferred type. As an example of suchmeans. we have shown a pipe 13 which-is perforated upon its lower side,to spray the chemical solution upon or in proximity to a transversedepression element 14:, from which such chemical solution is supplied ina continuous sheet or film upon the coated surface of the print paper.This chemical solution passes into a catchment basin 15, which is longerthan the width of the print paper 5.

It is thought that no further description coated surface of the paper 5,the same is caught in the catchment basin or receptacle 15, and iscollected in a tank 16.

After the print paper 5 passes about the rod or roll 9 the same travelsdownwardly in proximity to washing apparatus 17 which forms a veryimportantpart of this invention. Such washing apparatus in cludes acatchment receptacle 18, provided upon each end thereof with anapertured lug or car 19, which is slidably mounted upon a stationaryvertical guide rod or track 20. These guide rods or tracks have theirupper ends connected with the ends of the brackets 7. This catchmentreceptacle is considerably longer than the width of the widest printpaper to be run through the machine, thus making it possible to passprint paper of variousdecreased Widths through the machine.

The numeral 21 designates a spray device or pipe, provided withperforations through'- out its entire length, and which is connected ateach end thereof with an ear 22 carried by the catchment receptacle 18.The pipe 21 is of substantially the same length as the catchmentreceptacle, or perhaps a little shorter, and is therefor longer than the.width of the widest print paper to be run through the machine. By thisconstruction it is unnecessary to provide means to shorten the sprayingarea of the pipe 21, when passing narrower print paper through themachine. The water or other liquid spraying through the perforations inthe pipe 21, laterally of and beyond the print paper, is caught in thecatchment receptacle 18. r

A Water supply pipe 23 is connected with the perforated pipe 21, asshown. The catchment receptacle 18 is vertically movable and it isobvious that the perforated pip; 21 will move with the same.

cans are provided whereby the catchment receptacle may be raised andlowered. the same preferably comprising a sprocket chain 24, connectedwith the receptacle 18, as shown at 25. The sprocket chain 24: passes'about upper and lower sprocket wheels 26 and 27, as shown.

Rigidly connected with the upper sprocket wheel 26 is a ratchet wheel28, carrying a handle 28 and adapted to be normally e11- gaged by aholding pawl 29. It is thus seen that by moving the pawl 29 out ofengagement with the ratchet wheel 28, the catchment receptacle 18 willdescend to increase the distance between the same and the chemicalsolution applying means 12. By turning the ratchet wheel 28, thecatchment receptacle 18 together with the perforated follows:Assumingthat the washing apparatus 17 has been vertically adjusted so that thesame is at a proper distance from the chemical solution applying means12, the print paper 5 is fed into the printing ma chine and travelslongitudinally, as indicated by the arrow. lVhen the'print paper ispassing through the chemical solution applying means 12, the same hasits coated surface subjected to the action of the chemical solution.This chemical solution is thoroughly removed by the washing apparatus17.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as; a preferred example of the same and thatcertain changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having fully described our invention, we claim 1. In an apparatus of thecharacter described, guide means -for print or. photographic paper whenthe same is being moved longitudinally, means for applying a chemicalsolution to the paper, washing apparatus to remove the chemical solutionfrom the paper and means to vertically move the washing apparatus towardand away from the chemical solution applying means and positively lockthe same in adjustment at the desired vertical position.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, guide means for print orphotographic paper when the same is being moved longitudinally, meansfor applying a chemical solution to the paper, Washing apparatus toremove the chemical solution from the paper, means to move the washingapparatus toward and away from the chemical solution applylng means, andmeans to positively hold the Washing apparatus in adjustment atdifferent distances from the chemical solution applying means.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, means for applying achemical soluti on to print or photographic paper, w hing apparatus toremove the chemical so;

. receptacle formed upon the ends of the catchment relution from thepaper and vertically movable toward and away from the chemical solutionapplying means, means to guide the washing apparatus during the movement thereof, and means to hold the washing apparatus in adjustment atdifferent distances from the chemical solution applying means.

4. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, means to guide the printor photo graphic paper during its longitudinal travel, chemical solutionapplying means disposed near the paper, guide rods having correspondingends thereof disposed near the chemical solution applying means, washingapparatus to travel longitudinally of the guide rods, means comprising asprocket chain and sprocket wheels to move the washing apparatus, andmeans to normally hold the washing apparatus against movement in onedirection.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, means to guide print orphotographic paper during the longitudinal movement thereof, guide rods,a catchment receptacle slidably mounted upon the guide rods, means tomove the catchment receptacle longitudinally of the guide rods, awashing apparatus connected with the catchment receptacle for movementtherewith, and means disposed near correspond ing ends of the guide rodsto supply a chemical solution to the coated sur ace of the paper.

, 6. In an apparatus of the character described, upstanding guide rods,a catchment mounted therebetween, lugs ceptacle and having openingsformed therethrough to receive the guide rods, a perforated pipe carriedby the catchment receptacle, upper and lower sprocket wheels, a sprocketchain engaging the upper and lower sprocket-wheels and attached to thecatchment receptacle, a ratchet wheel connected with the upper sprocketwheel for to engage the ratchet wheel, and means disposed near theratchet wheel for applying a chemical solution to the paper.

7. In apparatus of the character de scribed, the combinatioh with asupporting structure, of paper guide means connected therewith, chemicalsolution applying means connected with the supporting structure andarranged in proximity to the paper guide means, a perforated conduitextending transversely of the paper to supply a washing liquid theretoand movable toward and away from the chemical solution applying means,and a catching receptacle arranged upon the opposite side of the paperin proximity to the perforated conduit and connected with the perforatedconduit to support the same and move therewith.

8. In apparatus of the character described,-the combination with asupporting structure, of paper guide means mounted thereon, chemicalsolution applying means connected with the supporting structure andarranged in proximity to the paper guide means, substantially verticallyarranged guides, at catching trough connected with the guides andadapted to move longitudinally thereof toward and away from the chemicalsolution applying means and to occupy a position near and upon one sideof the paper, a perforated conduit extending transversely of the paperupon the op posite side thereof and connected with the catchingreceptacle to be supported thereby and moved therewith, and means tovertically move the catching receptacle.

9. Apparatus for applying a liquid to print or like paper, comprisingpaper guide means, spraying means extending transversely for the fullwidth of the path of travel of the paper to apply the liquid thereto,and a catchment receptacle disposed in proximity to said spraying meansand on the opposite side of the path of travel of the paper, to receivethe portion of the liquid not intercepted by the paper, said receptacleextending approximately parallel with the spraying means and being atleast of equal length therewith.

10. Apparatus for applying a liquid to print or like paper, comprising aperforated tube extending transversely for the full width of the paperand disposed to one side of the same, a catchment receptacle dis posedupon the opposite side of the paper and extending transversely thereoffor the full width of the same and being at least of equal length withthe perforated tube, and means to guide the paper during the longitudinal travel of the same. v

11. An apparatus for applying a liquid to print or like paper,comprising a perfo rated tube extending transversely for the full widthof the paper and disposed to one side of the same, a catchmentreceptacle disposed upon the opposite side of the paper and extendingtransversely thereof for the full width of the same and being at leastof equal length with the perforated tube, means to raise and lower theperforated tube and catchment receptacle, and means to guide the paperduring the longitudinal travel of the same.

12. In apparatus of the character described, a supporting structure,paper guide means mounted thereon, chemical solution applying meansconnected with the supporting structure and arranged in proximity to thepaper guide means, a catching receptacle arranged transversely of thepaper upon one side thereof and adapted to extend at both ends beyondthe edges of the paper for a substantial distance, means whereby thecatching receptacle may be moved toward and away from the chemicalsolution applying means, and a perforated conduit arranged upon theopposite side of the paper, connected with the catching receptacle to besupported and moved thereby, and being substantially shorter than saidcatching receptacle.

CHARLES F. PEASE. CHARLESuX. GREEN.

WVitnesses;

W. J. WRIGHT, ALEX. MCWHINNIE.

